>
> Subject: Re: Babies: 4weeks/6weeks?
> Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 23:24:10 EST
> From: Vicki Wright <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> Jessi and All,
>
> Tonight I removed my baby gerbils from their parents' cage because the mother
> was chasing them and being rather vicious. One of the babies even had a
> bloody nose from where the mother bit it. The babes were born on December
> 30, so they are barely four weeks old. Peekaboo (mom) is pregnant and due to
> deliver imminently, so I'm assuming that's why she's been acting this way.
> She acted the same way towards her first litter when expecting her second.
>
> Has anyone got any advice? Should I have removed the babies from the
> parents' cage? Have any of you had females act this way toward the end of
> their pregnancies?
>
I think you did the right thing. No, one should not remove
pups from the parents' tank until 5-6 weeks old, ideally.
BUT if the mother is chasing them and being vicious it
obviously isn't safe for them there. In such a situation it
is better to have them not as socialized as you'd like than
to have them injured or killed. Make sure they have plenty
of water and food. If you're not sure they know how to use
the water bottle yet, spray a bit of water on the inside
walls of the tank and they'll lick it off. You can also
give them carrots or apples, just be careful how much.
--
Tana and The Little Rascals
http://thesanctuary.tripod.com
http://gerbils.freehosting.net
http://www.geocities.com/tinypaws68/
